The "makerspace" building is conceived as the innovation hub of the campus designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group). Its program is organized through a series of stacked volumes housing workshops, laboratories, communal areas, and a flexible forum—activities within which will be visible from the street.
Meanwhile, the academic building features a large central atrium surrounded by classrooms, laboratories, study areas, and offices. The project incorporates elements referencing the vernacular architecture of the Ozark mountain region, such as an open central passageway.
“The new STEM university in downtown Bentonville seeks to bridge the disconnect that often exists between academia and the working world around it. For the new campus, we have sought to break down the boundaries between campus and community through a lively new integrated neighborhood for faculty and citizens alike. The makerspace is conceived as an inhabited showcase, displaying a culture of physical experimentation and rapid prototyping to the passing citizens. It is our hope that this integration of the campus into the community will make higher education as accessible as possible, academically as well as socially."
Bjarke Ingels
The student residence adopts a figure-eight configuration, creating two elevated courtyards above the dining hall and communal areas. Each courtyard receives sunlight at different times of day while maintaining outward views. This layout aims to foster both student interaction and a connection to the landscape, thereby extending the open, community-oriented character of Bentonville onto the campus.
Flexibility is another core principle of the project. All three buildings are designed to adapt to technological and educational changes, allowing spaces to be modified as academic programs evolve. This capacity for transformation reflects a university that will integrate artificial intelligence into its curricula, teaching methods, and institutional management.
“We’re eager to bring the vision of Bjarke Ingels Group to Bentonville to help us make this new university a reality. The master plan and building designs they have given us are bold, imaginative, and highly practical all at once. They will inspire our students and faculty while complementing Bentonville’s urban and natural landscape.”
Tom Walton
Driven by several members of the Walton family—including Tom Walton, Steuart Walton, and Alice Walton—through the Alice L. Walton Foundation, the new university plans to welcome its inaugural class in 2029. The project is envisioned as a catalyst for regional talent, economic mobility, and long-term growth in Northwest Arkansas, while also aiming to propose a new model of STEM education tailored to an era defined by artificial intelligence and technological transformation.
